Class of 2013

I was born and lived almost my entire life in Bucharest, Romania, where I went to a German school and was exposed to a foreign language as well as a different culture from early on. During 10th grade I spent a year in Switzerland with Youth for Understanding (YFU), an international student exchange organization, before finishing the German high school in Bucharest. A year abroad was just what I needed, since it gave me the impulse and drive to apply to study abroad, in an environment that would offer me the resources needed to reach my academic and personal goals.

After some research I found out there were many good universities all over the world that could offer me strong academic programs combined with adequate research opportunities. Yet there were only very few that could offer me the learning environment I so much desired for an undergraduate education. These were small liberal arts colleges in the US.

I have always wanted to spend the best years of my life on a campus where I would be allowed to grow fully as a person, rather than merely as a student. A small liberal arts college such as Hamilton provided the right amount of personal contact to other students and faculty, as well as the right amount of resources to benefit from internships or pursue research in my desired field. The fact that Hamilton supported me financially was a clear sign to me, even before I had ever stepped on the Hamilton campus or talked to any Hamilton people face to face, that such a school would support and encourage me in any of my endeavors.

In terms of academics I have, so far, taken full advantage of the liberal arts education and had courses in Anthropology, Computer Science, Dance, Economics, Mathematics, and World Politics. As I am a rising sophomore I have not declared my major yet, but I intend to double major in Economics and Mathematics. This will hopefully give me the necessary skills to do some interesting economics research in the future with the help of a grant. I am sure that with enough work and determination I will be able to take full advantage of the resources the school has to offer and use them to achieve something creative and constructive.

Extracurricular activities have also played an important part in my life at Hamilton. I have been part of the debate team, where we discuss serious topics from Healthcare Reform and Eminent Domain to very funny ones inspired by popular movies or sports. The Debate team has helped me gain valuable oral communication skills, which have already proved very helpful, and will undoubtedly be an asset in later life. Another activity I have been involved in is the entrepreneurs club. We are a team of students dedicated to implementing creative ideas into practical solutions, meant to both aid students and improve the business world. Our latest project is designing and administering a textbook website, so that students can find textbooks at the most affordable prices.

Overall, Hamilton has taught me that nothing is impossible in an environment of smart and motivated students. As long as there are resources and helpful people available to guide students on their way to implementing their ideas, Hamilton will be a place where dreams come true.